Global status of african horse sickness: A perspective on emergency preparedness

Abstract

African horse sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious arthropod-borne viral disease, which affects all species of Equidae being fatal in horses. The aetiological agent of the disease is African horse sickness virus (AHSV), an Orbivirus within the family Reoviridae, which is transmitted by the biting midges in the genus Culicoides. AHS has been reported from Africa, Europe and Asia, and the disease is endemic in Africa. AHS appeared in India in the early 1960s and the disease was controlled later by combined vaccination and zoo sanitary measures. In recent times, climate change and the associated changing pattern of vector migration and international movement of animals have resulted in the appearance of the disease in countries, where it is not present. The presence of the disease in neighbouring countries is a threat to the equine population in India as our equines are naive to AHSV. It is in this context that any new outbreak in the country could be devastating for the equine sector. Majority of the veterinarians and para-veterinarians in the country are less informed about the clinical presentation and severity of AHS which could further result in delay in identification of index cases. Under the circumstances, it becomes prudent to create awareness about the disease so as to benefit researchers, veterinarians and the farming community associated with the equine sector. In this direction, this review besides highlighting the history, aetiology and clinical presentation of the disease also summarizes the emergency preparedness for combating the disease in the country.